Minera Quarry 1st August 2022 

Last visit here for the year I think, and its to spot  the late glowering Frog Orchids. Sadly, despite the trek we find none. We do take the chance to call in on the early flowering Frog Orchids we saw earlier in the year, and find them heavy with seed pods which is great news. There is a Marsh Fragrant Orchid showing the effects of sun-bleaching early in its flowering life, lack of rain in its middle period, and a return to normality at the end. There are some nice Broad-leaved Helleborines catching the son and some late and rather leggy Pyramidal Orchids hiding in the bracken.

 Youlsden 6th August 2022 (SU 78937 98137)

A few days down in the Chilterns, and this is our first destination. We probably approached this wood from the wrong end, taking a narrow hedge lined path down into the valley, skirting fields, and then climbing back up again. I had hoped for Violet Helleborines, a Var rosea even, but there were none to be seen. There are some White Helleborines in seed, identified by leaves and seed pods. Some look like victims of a bit deer munching.

Chinnor 6th August 2023 (SP 76666 00296) 

Here we do find some Violet Helleborines, but not in quite the same place as in 2017, and certainly fewer of them. This place looks so overgrown compared to what I remember

Aston Clinton Rag Pits 7th August 2023 (SP 88848 10860) 

I knew it wasn’t the right date to visit these old chalk diggings here, and so it proved. Plenty of evidence of what was in flower a month ago - Common Spotted Orchids, Pyramidal orchids, Chalk Fragrant Orchids by the scores of doxens. There were some Broad-leaved Helleborines still in flower or going over, but these were all caged, presumably to prevent grazing.

Wendover Woods 7th August 2022 (SP 88925 08920) 

Nest stop is where we saw a Var rosea five years ago, but no sign of it today. So its off to Wedover Woods. This is a massive site, with just about anything for anyone wanting a day in the countryside. rather like Delamere Forest in Cheshire, but with much more reasonable parking charges! Basically this is going to be a tester; take one of the paths and see what orchids we see. Unfortunately it is just a couple of White Helleborines on a bare slope, and in seed. That took 90 minutes. Oh. and ifyou come here watch out for ticks!

As we weren’t going to see much in the way of orchids we had back-up plans. Visit some of the lcations used for Midsomer Murder locations (and dine in the pubs) and to visit Tring Natural History Museum. Stuffed wild animals have truly and finally gone out of fashion, but one should not let those who fell vivtim to such practice have suffereed for nothing. Put them on show and let us decide. This place is a marvel, rivalled perhaps the Jardins des Plants in Paris.